UK PM Starmer Pledges Action Against Rising Antisemitism After Manchester Synagogue Attack

Following a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester that killed two and injured three, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to guarantee security for Britain's Jewish community amid a rising tide of antisemitism. The attacker, identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, targeted worshippers on Yom Kippur, and was stopped by security guards and armed police before being shot dead. Starmer, who returned early from a European summit, described the attack as motivated by hatred against Jews and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community, acknowledging their fear and promising increased police protection for synagogues. The attack heightened concerns in a community already alarmed by a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, with local leaders and media affirming their support for the Jewish population. Despite Starmer's efforts to combat antisemitism, including tackling it within his own Labour Party and condemning hatred, Israel's government criticized the UK for recognizing a Palestinian state and allegedly failing to curb antisemitism effectively. Pro-Palestinian marches in London following the Israel-Gaza conflict have further complicated the context of rising tensions and antisemitic sentiments in Britain.